Bubble tower unit



J. A.'OBR|EN BUBBLE TOWER UNIT April 23, 1946.

. Filed Feb. 21, 1944 m. w m H v w W1 r E 6 .V f z 4 5 j Y w B Patented Apr. 23, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUBBLE TOWER. UNIT James A. OBrien, Kansas City, Kans.

Application February 21, 1944, Serial No. 523,325

1 Claim.

variation of temperatures in the bubble tower and the liquifying of the various cuts at predetermined temperatures. The crude oil vapors are caused to pass through the bubble tower through successive trays which divide the tower into a plurality of vertically superposed compartments. By special means not shown, the temperature of the various compartments are controlled thus making it possible to take off different cuts at different levels of the tower.

The principal object of the present invention is the production of a simple, inexpensive bubble cap unit which may be easily and quickly removed and installed andone which will properly seal the trays, thus insuring that all of the vapors will pass through the bubble cap unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bubble tower unit wherein the bubble cap and associated chimney are rigidly secured together as a single unit.

A further object is the provision of a bubble tower unit wherein the bubble cap is secured to the tray plate from below.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear during the course of the specification, reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary section of a bubble or fractionating tower partly broken away to show the relative relation of the trays carrying the bubble caps embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of one of the trays indicating the relative position of the bubble caps.

Fig. 3 is an emarged vertical sectional view through one of the caps and the associated tray.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the bubble cap and associated parts with the securing key removed.

Throughout the several views like reference characters refer to similar parts and the numeral l0 designates the well known bubble or fractionating tower having horizontally disposed, spaced apart trays l2 to form vertically superposed compartments l4.

Down pipes I6 are adapted to interconnect adjacent compartments, thereby permitting the formation of a fixed liquid level line 66 in each of the compartments. Each of the trays I2 is provided with a series of holes or openings 20 to receive the bubble cap 22. It is found practical to make holes 20 circular in shape to facilitate proper sealing of the opening when the chimney 1 portion 24 of the bubble cap is fitted therein.

This chimney has a cylindrical body portion 26 and a frusto-conical lower portion 28 which is adapted to be fitted into hole 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, intermediate the top and bottom lines of the frusto-conical portion. This form of chimney will permit of slight variations in the parts without interfering with the proper sealing of the parts against leakage of vapors therethrough.

It will be noted that the lower portion 28 of the chimney extends below the tray member l2 and is provided with diametrically opposed slots 30 and 32. A cam key 34 is adapted to extend through slots 30 and 32 with its upper edge portions 36 and 38 resting against the underside tray l2 as the lower cam faces 40 and 42 rest against the lower ledges 44 and 46 formed at the bottom of slots 30 and 32 respectively.

The head 48 of key 34 is slightly enlarged and provided with an opening 50 suitable for receiving a suitable hook tool whereby the key may be positioned or removed.

The chimney 24 is notched at its upper edge to form openings 52 and 54. Cap member 56 is inverted, cylindrical dish shape and is positioned on fingers 54 in substantially axial alignment with the chimney 24. This cap is of greater diameter than the diameter of the chimney thereby forming an annular recess 58 therebetween. The lower sidewall 60 of cap 56 is positioned above the tray plate l2 and is provided with notches 62 to form depending teeth 64.

As previously described, oil collects on the tray I2 and for convenience of illustration, it will be considered that the liquid level of the oil is at line 66. Considering that the oil vapors are entering the chimney as indicated by the arrows and travelling upwardly, they will pass through openings 52 and into the annular passageway 58. Here they will enter the oil contained therein, pass downwardly, then outwardly between the teeth 64 or below the cap, thence into the body of the oil between line 66 and the tray plate l2. This treatment of the vapors will cause the breaking up of the larger vapor bubbles, thus exposing 2 v a larger area to the liquid on the tray, thereby causing a liquiiication oi vapors which have a tendency to liquify at the temperature of that particular compartment 01 the bubble tower.

One of the principal features of this particular bubble cap resides in the fact that the chimney and cap are rigidly secured together at it by any be pulled from its sealing position by simply pull- 7 ingagainstthe p redgeof the cap. When' pressureisexertedasainsttheupperpartotthe capthechimneywillfulcrumagainstoneside of the opening II and due to the inclination of the 'frusto-conical portion of the chimney which entars the hole 1., the cap can be easily dislo ged and removed fl-om the still. When repositioning the bubble cap unit, the operator enters the compsrtment, positions the cap in one of the holes ii and then reaches through one of the holes 20 which has not yet been provided with a cap and sets key 34, thus providing a quick and eillcient setting of the cap. This operation can be continued until substantially all of the caps are posi- 5 tioned when it might be necessary insert the lhaslt keys from below through the adjacent man- This bubble cap unit is suitable for use in the various types and makes of bubble towers and needs only to be varied in size and shape without departing from its general structure and mode of functioning to meet the requirements of particular types of towers. 7

It is evident that many minor changes in this structure might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is: g In a bubble tower unit, a tray plate having a circular hole formed therethrough, a unitary cap and chimney whereinthe chimney is positioned in spaced apart relation to the side wall or said cap and is provided with irusto-conical section that extends below the lower edge oisaid cap to fit into the hole in said tray plate and has diametrically disposed holes formed therethrough, the upper edge portion of said chimney is provided with notches whereby opening areiormed to permit the flow of vapors from saidchimney to the area between said chimney and cap, spaced apart vertically formed teeth disposed around the lower edge portion of said cap below the-notches in said chimney, and a wedge key adapted to'be 30 inserted into the holes in the frusto-conical portion of said chimney to engage the lower side of said tray plate to secure the chimney and cap in fixed position relative to the tray plate.

JAMES A. O'BRIEN. 

